Effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on the growth, yield and quality of beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.)

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to determine the effect of organic and inorganic fertilizers on growth, yield and quality of beetroot. The experiment consisted of variety (Ruby queen) which was laid out in randomised block design with three replication and ten treatments comprising of organic and inorganic fertilizers viz., T1 (50% RDF + 50% Vermicompost), T2 (100% Vermicompost), T3 (100% Poultry manure), T4 (50% RDF + 50% Poultry manure), T5 (100% Farmyard manure), T6 (50% RDF + 50% FYM), T7 (50% RDF + 50% Poultry manure), T8 (50% Vermicompost + 50% FYM), T9 (50% Poultry manure + 50% Vermicompost), T10 (control). The result of experiment showed that the treatment T4 (50% RDF + 50% Poultry manure) showed minimum days to 50% germination and maximum number of leaves per plant, root diameter, fresh root weight, dry root weight, root yield per plot, root yield per hectare, phenolic content, betalains while, 50% Poultry manure along with 50% FYM recorded maximum root length. Among quality parameters, TSS and ascorbic acid content was recorded maximum with combination of 50% RDF + 50% Vermicompost. The maximum chlorophyll, carotenoid content, anthocyanin and betalains were recorded with 100% Poultry manure. The economic analysis depicted the maximum gross income, net income and benefit-cost ratio from treatment T4 (50% RDF + 50% Poultry manure).